Theatre, cabaret and comedy: the 2026 Croydonites Festival, staged at various venues around the borough, including the Front Room and Stanley Halls, runs from November 4 to 21

The Croydonites Festival returns next month, with theatre, cabaret and comedy, featuring some glorious hits from the world-famous Edinburgh International Festival, plus lots of homegrown talent.

Hannah Maxwell opens Croydonites 2026 on November 4 in The Front Room in St George’s Walk with Turn Your Fucking Phones Off, which just won a Fringe First.

Another Edinburgh winner is Man or Bear (The Front Room, Novemeber 11), which picked up a Corr Blimey Top Goose Award.

The Vikings are coming: James Rowland storms into Croydonites on November 12

Victoria Melody plays Croydonites for the first time (The Front Room, November 8), and Edinburgh stalwart James Rowland returns with Team Viking, that premiered 10 years ago and is still delighting audiences (Stanley Halls, November 12).

Rosa Garland’s Primal Bog at Stanley Halls on November 5 is not for the faint-hearted (“lesbian slime wrestling”?), and Vincent Gambini is bringing all the surprises with his close-Up magic show to the Clocktower Café for two special shows.

There’s a double helping of Dick’s Picks, too (at Stanley Halls November 7 and the Front Room on November 21), showcasing some big-name comedians including Sam Eley as Basil Crumbwick and Katie Norris, plus we have Ollie Horn’s cult hit The Most Toast.

Richard DeDomenici invites you on his Crollywood Tour, and premieres a new redux, Heads of State; Frauke Requardt’s Anatomy of Survival examines our nervous systems, while Simone French dives into the toxic world of fake influencers.

They are all joined by a host of local artists making new work including Amy Gwilliam, Anita Wadsworth, Kat McGarr, Mitra Djalili, Abi Studley, Alex Morrall and Sheree Vickers, Eddy McKay, Savannah Kityo and Sharon Barrow.

Now in its 11th year, and bounding into Croydon off the back of a hugely successful Croydonites Fringe staged in July, Croydonites 2026 has loads to offer over almost three weeks.

• For more info and to book tickets, visit the Croydonites website by clicking here

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